Author: Maria Connolly

The Secret to Living a Fulfilling Life: Less is More When You…

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Life Skills.

“You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.” ~ Wayne W. Dyer

Is your idea of living a fulfilling life like Linda’s? As soon as Linda graduated from college, she set out to live life to the full. A 9 to 5 job wasn’t for her. She wanted to see and experience everything — rock climbing in Yosemite, spelunking in Belize, swimming with the dolphins, traveling El Camino de Santiago in Spain, visiting museums across Europe, eating exotic foods, immersing herself in the culture of each location.

Along the way she worked at a vineyard, in various kitchens, on a fishing boat and more. She was determined to cram her life full of experiences. Constantly on the move, she searched for a feeling of deep satisfaction with her life. Yet she was driven to try more intense activities to feel alive. The thought of staying in one place filled her with dread. In her quest, she focused on external sources for excitement, losing touch with her inner strength, peace and balance.

Will You Work from Home Post Pandemic? Self Leadership Skills Required!

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Self-Leadership Skills.

“Self-care is, fundamentally, about bringing balance back to a life that has grown imbalanced from too many commitments or responsibilities.” ~ Robyn L. Gobin, author of The Self-Care Prescription

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your work routine? Do you still go to the office to work? Or were you forced to work from home? Perhaps you already worked from home as an entrepreneur, coach or business owner. Whatever your circumstances, this unique time in our history creates an opportunity to think about what you really want from life, including whether or not you’ll work from home post pandemic.

As with many of my clients, I had to quickly learn how to work from home. Thankfully, I was already using Zoom to work with clients who live in different parts of the country (and the world!) so was able to transition to that format very easily. I’m also grateful I already had self-leadership and self-care practices and routines in place, which allow me to balance new demands in a healthful way. It’s like riding a bicycle — we have to keep moving forward to keep your balance.

Bored by Routine? Learn to Unleash the Power of Repetition to Improve Your Health and Life

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Health and Wellness, Self-Leadership Skills, Somatic Coaching.

Is predictability passé? Do you thrive on change? Is chasing novel experiences your thing? Do you view routine activities as boring, even a waste of time? I get it. I’m the kind of person who craves something different. For example, I’m not happy unless I rearrange my furniture every few months. But I’ve learned that tapping into the power of repetition and routine actually gives me more freedom to enjoy novel experiences in my life, and I think it will work for you, too.

The number one reason why routine and the power of repetition gives you more freedom, is that repetitive actions reduce your overall stress levels. Every time you have to stop and make a conscious decision, you’re adding stress to your life. But once the decision is made, you’re free to not think about it again unless you choose.

Doing things routinely allows you to become more centered. I’ll get to how to do that in just a moment. However, let me first assure you that learning to love the power of repetition will improve not only your mental health, but also your physical health. So many people tell me they don’t like the rigidity of counting calories, tracking their food intake, or doing the same exercise routines. With a simple mindset change, you can flip this thinking on its head!

5 Key Values of a Modern Day Renaissance Woman. Is This YOU?

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Embodied Leadership, Self-Leadership Skills, Women in Leadership.

“I want to be a Renaissance Woman. I want to paint, and I want to write, and I want to act, and I just want to do everything.” ~ Emma Watson

Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Mae Jemison — to name just a few — can all claim the distinction of being a modern day Renaissance Woman. To understand this reference, we have to go back in history to Italy during the 14th century.

Since I grew up in Italy, I greatly enjoyed studying the Renaissance period. The name “Renaissance” comes from the French word meaning “rebirth.” It was a rebirth from the Middle Ages. It gave birth to discovery and exploration, innovation, and a resurgence of classical learning and spiritual enlightenment.

Overwhelmed? Gain Clarity of Mind with One Simple Yet Powerful Practice

Written by Maria Connolly. Posted in Self-Leadership Skills, Somatic Embodiment.

“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” ~ Anne Frank

Chris (not her real name) came to me feeling out of control. She described herself as always being in a hurry. She had to hit the ground running every day. Chris had minimal self-care. She had no time for deep relationships. She never got enough sleep and couldn’t remember the last time she sat down to eat a decent meal. A vacation? What’s that! And at the end of the day, she couldn’t say what meaningful things she had accomplished. She felt empty and lost. She needed to gain clarity of mind.

As we talked, I could see that her mind was ablaze with new ideas, which were quickly being extinguished by her many self-imposed obligations. She spent a lot of time just trying to retrieve information from her brain, notebook and computer files. She often didn’t know if she’d completed a project, because she was already on to the next. Then she’d have to retrace her steps and recreate mentally what had been done. Can you relate?

Author: Maria Connolly

The Secret to Living a Fulfilling Life: Less is More When You…

Will You Work from Home Post Pandemic? Self Leadership Skills Required!

Bored by Routine? Learn to Unleash the Power of Repetition to Improve Your Health and Life

5 Key Values of a Modern Day Renaissance Woman. Is This YOU?

Overwhelmed? Gain Clarity of Mind with One Simple Yet Powerful Practice

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